rafter and rose | 1000 Fields of Roses

Staring Down The Century

Today is the central day of my personal century… I can look back with kind assessment on the previous half, before squaring my shoulders and facing forward to the unknown years.
I also realised today that I have just entered my sixth decade. That feels both scary and oddly liberating!
It’s been quite a while since I cared much about how others see me. As I get older I’m more able to be “me”, without pretence. There’s scope for fun and frolic – singing randomly in the supermarket, dancing down the street – as well as the serious adult business of life. I’m unsure what I’ll be doing this year, but the possibilities are endless!
It’s a little odd to realise I’m now eligible for all sorts of “over 50s” opportunities, and I’ll have to remember to pick the next age group on the drop down menus on surveys…

Celebrated this morning with my Babe, having breakfast at our favourite cafe.

I asked my Babe to take a photo of me… didn’t like the first one, so asked him to take another.

I look like I’m about to cry!
This called for a selfie…

I ended up looking slightly terrified of… something. (Look at my lovely necklace, though – it’s a sonic screwdriver, a gift from Sweet Bean 🙂 )
I ended up taking a selfie while laughing at the previous attempts. This shall be my official birthday portrait!

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Here’s breakfast – bacon, avocado, haloumi, poached egg, sweet potato rosti and greens. Yum!

❤

On the way out, beautiful fragrant flowers. It had been raining earlier.

Spent the rest of the morning reading my Bible and listening to worship songs.

I plan to continue celebrations tomorrow by taking a trip in to the big city. We’ll see how it goes!

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on February 4, 2019 at 10:58 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: rafter and rose

Looking Up

I think I may have figured out the reason (or at least one of them!) that I like my favourite cafe so much.
There’s always something to look at – lots of knick-knacks, new decorative touches, books in odd places. This includes higher up on the walls, where you may not think to look at first.

I felt a bit down when I went in, but started to feel better after a while. Normally I would attribute that to the coffee and muffin (which I’m sure helps), but I noticed that I was spending a large proportion of my time gazing…up.
At the bottles in the window. At the plaster. At the lightbulbs. And the very act of looking upwards was also making me feel more “up”! I’m not sure what the other patrons thought of me staring up at the light through green bottles and grinning like a loon, but it made my day!

Here’s another of my views – a bee, I believe…

…and some words to journey by.

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Thinking....

on January 9, 2019 at 7:04 am Leave a Comment
Tags: rafter and rose

Frangipanis And Chocolate Chips

This week has been a big week. We had everything organised to be ready for Christmas, but… circumstances change. Rather than doing a big shop Monday and bits and pieces as needed after, I’ve been getting lifts with (lovely, kind) friends or taking the bus.
The nice part about shopping on my own is being able to sit and savour a coffee. Went to my favourite place and got a comfortable seat.

Enjoyed a coffee and a brownie.

Reflected on life… 😀

Contemplated a dragonfly, and found that my coffee loves me…

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My story for the day…

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On another shopping trip I had a bit more walking to do, but found a frangipani tree on the way – time for a bit of decoration!

Today was busy with finishing cooking/baking/cleaning for the family do tomorrow. I’m a bit tired now but IT’S DONE! Mostly. Some last minute bits to do tomorrow. Right now I’m taking the night off, watching “Elf”, and getting excited for tomorrow!

Merry Christmas Eve Eve! 😀

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Thinking....

on December 23, 2018 at 7:53 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Christmas, Elf, rafter and rose

Sunshine, Rain And Clouds Again…

It’s Sweet Bean’s birthday on Monday, so he had a celebration today with his friends – watching a DVD while eating pizzas and various sweets. All we had to do was provide food and leave them to it! This morning we took him to spend some of his birthday money – great excitement beforehand, and happiness after 😀
It’s been wet quite a lot lately – if not actually raining, then overcast and threatening. It’s been a while since there was any sort of prolonged rain, so it’s good to see.

Apart from the actual weather we’ve had sun interspersed with clouds – good news, some setbacks, some opportunities and possibilities… just the time to have a coffee and talk things over!

This is where we sat, with lots of greenery, and lowering skies. Apparently there were also bees…

The view. With mocha cheesecake.

…and mocha.

Old buckets and boxes in a transient glow. The small tables are new (at least since I was last here). They’re made from the bases of old treadle sewing machines.

The weather has almost matched my mood this week – sudden descent into flat grey for some of it. Not too drastic, and I know I just have to get through for a few days until the sun shines again. This week I allowed myself to just stop – at least for a time. To not do everything I felt I should be doing – just for one day – just to decide not to feel guilty. I know I am incredibly privileged to be able to do that. It did make a difference for me.
We still have Sweet Bean’s actual birthday to celebrate. This is most likely to involve ice cream. And another year beginning, with the sun shining through future clouds.

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Thinking....

on September 8, 2018 at 11:16 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: rafter and rose

Mocha For A Dreaming Day

Another coffee post! 😀
I’ve been out for coffee a couple of days this week. This afternoon was at Market Organics with my Babe, where we shared cheezecake, talked about our lives at this point and the possible future.

Chocolate/mint not-quite-cheesecake (not sure what it was made of)

Wednesday I had to have a mammogram (just a check up) so decided to go down to Rafter & Rose afterwards. I figured that after being squished and (wo)manhandled, a mocha and gluten free muffin was not too much to ask for!

The reminder over my table 😀

…and a bunny to watch over me.

My little nook (and muffin – the mocha came later) It was quiet and I was able to drift into dreaming for a while, and have a bit of prayer time. Sometimes the world overwhelms, and it takes an effort to remember to enjoy the quiet places…

I’ve also been discovering new songs this week. Here’s a new favourite.

Looking forward to the weekend…
All I have left to say is –

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on August 10, 2018 at 11:34 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Bethel, market organics, rafter and rose

Rise And Shine

Not long back from breakfast out. Some lovely friends gave me some money for my birthday back in February to go out for breakfast, but this is the first morning we’ve been able to get there…

Mocha for me and Earl Grey for hubs 🙂

House breakfast for two – sourdough toast with bacon jam, avocado, baby spinach and poached eggs. Yum!
Where is this, I hear you say? Go down to Rafter and Rose – they’re open most days from 6.30am. It’s peaceful, even with other people about (and there may not be that many!) This morning the early sun streamed in…

Noticed this pot on the next table.

Grow things! 😀
Thought about sitting at this table next time I come in on my own – seems cosy.

Good morning to you!
❤

Published in:

Simple life...

on April 5, 2018 at 8:56 am Leave a Comment
Tags: rafter and rose

Another Year, Another Coffee

It’s my birthday today! Yayyy! I am 7 in dog years today 😀
Went to Rafter and Rose for breakfast this morning with Hubby – we were pretty much the first ones there, so had our pick of the tables.

The board outside…

The other side of the board – not my sentiments this morning. I love everybody today!

Sat in the corner, with a good view of the empty early morning streets.

The cake/muffin selection above was amazing – we got some to take home, but opted for a breakfast. This was one portion, but we shared.

My mocha…

The design was either a swan or the Sorting Hat.Tasted gorgeous.
We ate and chatted, and I revelled in being able to go out and enjoy a meal without incident. The music was a selection of 80s music, which made me feel young… Started eating with the Eurythmics and finished with this –

Yes, I did sing along…

Here’s some more random interiors from the cafe.

And one exterior…

Birthday portrait!

Got home, and my beautiful boys gave me my pressies, and the cards they had made ❤

They know me… 😀

Hello, Four!

It’s only just past 9am, and I’ve had a fabulous day so far! ❤
Bring on the year!

Published in:

Thinking....

on February 4, 2018 at 9:17 am Comments (1)
Tags: birthday, dOCTOR Who, rafter and rose

Wrapping Up The Week

Ever have one of those weeks that veer between “I feel the world is out of control and can I just punch something/one?” and “All is right with the world – I shall now randomly sing”? I’ve sort of had a week like that…
First – here’s a heart I found in the car park at the markets I went to yesterday.

🙂

It’s the first time I’ve made it to the Rocklea Markets for months now. We brought back pastries for breakfast – we had to get back in time to get to a book sale…

Rhubarb crumble brioche, and sour cherry and coconut. Yum!

This week I’ve been trying to finish an assessment – everything I searched for, every book I read, I just couldn’t find the answers I was looking for. I think I’ve finally figured it out, but I felt hopeless for most of the week…
Also this week – Hubby went for a job – his first interview for around five years. It didn’t go well, but because of a good phone interview the week before, he’ll be in the second intake of trainees. It’s commission only, but the best offer we’ve had for years…
The world goes on, and in our little corner it may all change soon!
We went out for coffee to celebrate 🙂

There’ll apparently be travel involved 😉

A very chocolatey brownie and a pineapple/coconut muffin with lime infused icing…

I love my coffee! 🙂

What will the coming week bring?

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on February 26, 2017 at 8:29 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: hearts, rafter and rose

Rising To The Rafters

This has been a good week in a lot of ways – some things have become clearer, and there’s been glimpses of light in the future… It’s also our 22nd Wedding Anniversary today -yay for us! 🙂

We went to a lovely little cafe this morning to celebrate. I’ve been there twice before -once on my own, once with hubby. It’s called Rafter and Rose, on Ellenborough St, across from the cinema. It’s down a little alleyway with lots of greenery outside. The food is great!
The first time I went I was on my own… I’d forgotten how nice it is to spend unhurried time on my own with a cuppa.

This was my view…
This was my food 🙂

That’s a hot chocolate and something called a breakfast muffin – basically croissant dough plaited and covered in cinnamon sugar, then baked in a muffin tin. Very sugary, and I couldn’t eat it all. Took it home for later, though.
The second visit was with hubby. We needed some down time, and sat outside with the flora and blue skies…

We shared a sour cream and blueberry scone with our cuppas.

And today… I wasn’t feeling my best, but it was worth taking time. We sat and chatted and enjoyed each other’s company. Lovely!
I like the bits and pieces on the walls…